It was in the middle of Grey's crying fit that a knock on their door startled them, breaking off their lamenting worble into a thick silence.

They swallowed, thickly, their mind going immediately to the more horrific scenarios.

They had been discovered, a feral Keeper that would be tossed into the Moon Refinery. Jupiter would discover their death and be destroyed in the aftermath, because by some strange making of fate, Grey had become precious to the child. They would be mourned by one little girl, and would never see the Verse that she was set on building.

Or even worse than their death. Jupiter had been caught and was already dead by Lord Balem's hand. No, please not my youngling.

Panic settled deep in their bones before logic made them snap to attention at the second knock. No S-Keeper would knock. They would scale the walls outside the apartment and ambush.

So Grey breathed in a sharp whistle and gave a trill to themselves to calm down.

Grey quickly flicked on their holographic disguise, and blotted their eyes underneath it, wary of the dark liquid breaking their disguise. A quick glance at the mirror made them see Venus, dressed as they had been in functional shorts and a loose casual shirt that they had purchased, no shoes, and wild curls pulled back in a sharp braid. Taking a quick, whistling breath through their pores, Grey opened the door with a smile on their human face.

The Ambassador, Sir Sergi Jones stood on the other side of the door.

Something twisted in their central organ, and they quickly straighten slightly.

"Ah," their voice was still laced with their lamenting song, and they swallowed quickly to try and dispel it, soothing out their vocalizations into something more neutral, "What a pleasant surprise, Sir Jones."

"Sergi is fine, Miss. Greyson, Venus, if may?"

Grey gave a stilted nod, "Venus is fine. "

Different eyes, so similar to Jupiter, looked at them, firm, direct.

"May I come in, Miss. Venus?"

Grey swallowed thickly, and wordlessly let Jupiter's Elder past them. The apartment was clean, meticulously so, and on a whim they had purchased a candle, something that smelled of strawberries, that they constantly had aflame, filling the space. Anything that was not natural to the Earth has been hidden away during the day, as Grey did not even dare to read the sheeves without the safety of the dark. The human Elder went to sit, carefully, and looked at the pink and lavender throw pillows that Jupiter and Grey had chosen together from a catalog. Grey sat opposite of him, in the lone armchair, and almost brought their legs up before remembering that was not polite in human company to curl into themselves. Awkwardly, they placed their hands on their lap, and their legs flat on the floor. It put unnecessary pressure on their hip joints, but they kept the human posture.

"Would you like some tea?" they felt their voice was stiff, as they tried to remember more human social niceties. They knew that beverages were important. They could not remember in their flustered state whether or not food was to be served in addition to that beverage. Or was that too old of a custom? Or too odd for a relatively young person to observe?

"I come with a proposition, Miss Venus, and I do not wish to take up much of your time."

Their central organ fluttered alarmingly in response.

"A proposition?" Keep your feet flat, do not move your face too much so your hologram does not waver around your eyes, be calm, Grey, "I'm afraid I don't understand."

Piercing gaze, but a smile that softened the look on the elderly man's face.

"You were once an au pair, am I correct?"

Tension ran up Grey's spine. Please.

"Yes, sir, I was. To a Mr. Hastings and his little boy, Micheal. He was the sweetest boy."

"Yes. I heard he moved right before your graduation, somewhere in Africa?"

Grey allowed a perplexed face, even if they had been well aware of the possibility of Sergi Jones inquiring after their fake life.

"How on Earth did you know that?"

"I had you investigated, Miss Venus, as I fully intend for you to become an au pair to my granddaughter. You established a rapport with the girl, and I feel that you have earned my eternal gratitude in finding her after her kidnapping."

Grey allowed their human face to fall into surprise and shock, mouth open, eyes wide, blinking rapidly.

"I-"

The man removed a large envelope from his suit jacket and placed it on the handsome black coffee table.

"Enclosed is your contract, Miss. Venus, I honestly hope you consider this."

Then with a firm nod, Sergi Jones left Grey's apartment without another word.

As soon as the door was closed behind them, Grey let out a trill of relief and triumph.

I have a place at Jupiter's side. As she promised, as long as I wish it, I will have it.


Guys I'm trying to be a little bit more organized about uploading for She is But the Wind, so I will try to upload a chapter every Saturday-Tuesday, so four chapters a week. This will be the last chapter until Saturday.

~Be Well, Be Safe,

Moon Witch '96